The Wolf and the Lioness - Future promises. (Patreon)

Cirilla Targaryen, Dragon Reserve – Romania.

“So…this is a dragon reserve,” Ciri said with evident interest as she and Bellatrix walked along the cobblestone path, both ready to meet the man in charge of managing the place.

The Black maiden nodded calmly and elegantly, a slight limp in her legs and a radiant smile on her face, both undoubtedly consequences of the…vigorous activities of the previous night, the lioness thought.

“That’s right. This is one of the largest reserves in the Wizarding World. They say they care for more than a hundred dragons in the Valley of Mists,” Bellatrix said with evident happiness as both ladies reached what appeared to be a small building at the edge of the valley. It was not very luxurious, but it was evidently quite sturdy, made of stone with the local architecture, quite pleasant to the eye, at least for Ciri. Although the interesting part was the group of wizards and witches guarding the entrance. They all looked quite competent, wearing heavy leather coats and bearing scars on their faces.

There was no doubt that dealing with dragons was quite dangerous, Ciri thought with considerable respect, at the same time as a young, tall red-haired man with strong arms covered in scars walked toward them.

“Well, here’s the welcoming committee,” the Black maiden said, taking a step forward and taking control of the conversation.

“You must be Charlie, Arthur’s offspring, aren’t you?” Bella asked in an arrogant yet sophisticated tone of voice, undoubtedly completely different from the one Ciri had heard her use at Grimmauld Place.

The red-haired man nodded softly, took a step forward, and replied.

“That’s right, Madame Black. Welcome to the Ashfang Sanctuary. It is a pleasure to welcome a member of the Council families. I am certain you will be pleased with the results of this quarter,” the man said, bowing respectfully toward Bellatrix as the rest of the wizards and witches did the same.

Ciri watched as the redhead raised his gaze and focused his eyes on her, opening them slightly, evidently dazzled by the beauty of the young lioness.

Something Bellatrix noticed as well.

The Black woman narrowed her eyes at the redhead’s audacity, but before she could say anything, Ciri intervened.

“We have come in search of a gift for my husband, Lord Aegon,” she said casually, enjoying the sight of the previously interested redhead turning completely pale, fear now evident in his eyes before he quickly looked away and nodded.

“Ah, yes, my Lady. A…a thousand apologies. We didn’t know the Black Heir was…well, married,” Charlie said with evident embarrassment. Bellatrix looked at Ciri with approval in her insane gaze, while the young princess simply shrugged, dismissing the incident.

Charlie noticed it as well, so, swallowing with difficulty, the redhead focused on his speech again.

“I understand. Then, a guided tour of the facilities, an update on the quarterly operational report, and some souvenir for the young Black heir. Understood,” Charlie said before turning around and beginning to issue orders around him.

Allowing Bellatrix and Ciri to chat alone for a few moments while the dragon keepers prepared a carriage to take them to the Sanctuary’s main building, which apparently stood at the center of the Sanctuary.

“You should have let me put him in his place! How dare he look at you the way only Aegon is allowed to!” Bella spat indignantly and furiously, making Ciri shake her head with a smile on her face.

“Relax, Bella. I’m sure he’ll think twice about it now. Considering that Aegon will be the boss of his boss’s boss, we won’t have any more problems with him,” Ciri said with her characteristic natural elegance, absentmindedly stroking her silky, long hair.

Bellatrix simply snorted, crossing her arms and looking toward the edge of the bridge they were about to cross toward the Sanctuary.

“It’s…a gigantic place. It’s supposed to have been formed by the fall of a star. One of our ancestors, Antares Black, absorbed it into the family when he executed a rival family and took their youngest daughter as his wife,” Bellatrix said casually, making Ciri grimace uncomfortably.

“I don’t consider that something to be proud of,” the princess said as she took the time to observe the Sanctuary in depth.

She knew she was in a place called Romania, in the middle of an enormous and dense forest that seemed endless. Pine trees rose above both witches like enormous dark pillars, while a cold mist crawled between the roots.

Something to be expected, considering that, apparently, autumn had begun in this mysterious and magical world.

“It’s impressive,” Ciri confessed, making Bella silently nod beside her, both observing the immense and magical valley that served as a Dragon Sanctuary.

A gigantic abyss stretched between the mountains, covered in mist, waterfalls, and forests. In the distance, she could make out enormous caves carved into the rocky walls. Some of them had an orange glow within.

“That’s where the nests are. Dragonesses prefer elevated and rocky places that are easy to defend. The nests of the more common dragons are there,” Bellatrix said, prompting Ciri to look at the woman and reply.

“Then I suppose we won’t find what we’re looking for in those caves,” the blonde princess said firmly, making Bellatrix nod with determination.

After all, both of them had traveled all the way to Romania for a very specific reason.

To give Aegon a gift he would never forget.

“No. Those dragons are…useful, but they aren’t the largest, fiercest, or most powerful. There is only one dragon worthy of my dear nephew, a Hebridean Black,” Bellatrix said with determination in both her voice and her expression.

Ciri had no fucking idea what a Hebridean Black was, but the name sounded powerful and imposing, so she imagined the dragon would be similar, a dragon worthy of a Targaryen prince.

A few seconds later, a pair of witches approached Ciri and Bellatrix. Behind them moved an enchanted carriage that, to Ciri’s surprise and interest, moved by itself, without any horse or similar beast in sight.

“The carriage is ready, my ladies,” a young woman said, making both witches nod before climbing into the carriage and taking their seats, at the same time as they began moving toward the Sanctuary’s central building in the middle of the valley.

Ciri and company began moving across an immense stone bridge, magical by nature, considering that the damn structure was floating, creating a safe path between the edge and the center of the valley.

Giving Ciri and Bellatrix simply wonderful views.

“This is beautiful,” whispered the young princess of Cintra, a huge smile on her face as she watched a large number of dragons of various sizes and species flying through the immense valley.

They were separated into some sort of habitats, most likely divided by species. Some were numerous, such as the medium-sized ones with green scales, while others were more…scarce, generally those of greater size and with less friendly faces.

During the journey, Charlie explained everything important about the place in great detail, the dragon species they worked with, the way they divided the dragons by size and breed, and the activities they would be carrying out until the end of the year.

“We’re in nesting season, and it has been a great year. We’re estimating an eight-percent growth in specimens compared to last year. Lady Greengrass’s contacts have opened up a much larger market for our products and services,” Charlie said, evidently proud, as a pair of green dragons flew over the Reserve’s bridge before diving toward the depths of the valley.

Ciri looked at the beautiful beasts in amazement, and upon seeing her expression, Charlie replied.

“They’re first-time Welsh Green mothers. Since this is their first clutch, they’re quite restless,” Charlie replied with a smile, making Ciri softly nod as the carriage arrived at the reserve’s main building.

It was enormous, similar to a castle, but evidently adapted for dragon breeding, with enormous courtyards fully equipped for whatever was necessary in the care of the beautiful and majestic magical creatures.

The stone was dark gray. There were no ornaments or beauty of any kind in the architecture of the place. It was obvious that it had been built to be sturdy and useful, but nothing more.

“Well, where would you like to begin, Madame Black? Perhaps a tour of the nesting grounds, or the processing and production area, or perhaps…” Charlie began, only to be interrupted by Bellatrix.

“The main Black office. I want you to bring the fossilized eggs we have, please. Specifically, the Hebridean Black ones,” the mature woman said with complete calm and elegance, as if she were asking about the weather.

Charlie’s eyes widened in shock. His mouth moved as if he desperately wanted to say something but was unable to, actions that were also imitated by the rest of the wizards and witches who had accompanied them.

“The…the Hebridean Black eggs, my Lady?” he asked with difficulty, making Bellatrix nod with a heavy sigh.

“Yes, Mr. Weasley. The Hebridean Black eggs we have in the security vault. I already spoke with Anastasia and Apolline, so you won’t have any problems with the necessary authorizations,” Bella said with some irritation in her voice.

An irritation Charlie and company immediately identified.

“Yes, Madame Black…I’ll take care of bringing you what you requested,” the redhead said before turning around and beginning to issue orders to the rest of the staff.

Ciri looked around with interest while Bellatrix took her hand and guided the lioness of Cintra into the interior of the complex.

“Come, darling. I’ll give you an express tour and we’ll wait for the eggs in the Black lounge. I also ordered enough material to make a couple of dragonhide coats, extremely expensive, elegant, and resistant to magic. Perfect for those adventures our beloved King will apparently drag us into,” Bellatrix said with a heavy sigh, making Ciri laugh loudly at the apt description.

“Aegon says he doesn’t look for trouble, trouble looks for him,” the princess’s words made Bella snort with amusement while rolling her eyes.

“Of course, darling, of course. Now come, let’s finish the tour, collect the eggs, the leather, and the quarterly report. Our visit isn’t over yet. Romania has the largest magical flea market in Europe. I’m sure we can find something interesting lost among the commoners. We also have to visit an acquaintance of mine from my time as a duelist, and…” Bella said, detailing her plans to Ciri with precision, who simply listened with a smile on her face.

Bella reminded her greatly of Yennefer: beautiful, arrogant, and extremely powerful, always wanting to look spectacular.

The Lioness of Cintra thought it would be interesting when the two witches met. She could hardly wait. Now that would be a spectacle worth seeing.

Alas, it was not the time to think about that. They would be in this curious world for at least another year, enough time for Aegon to revive the dragon eggs and for Castle Volkihar to be refurbished as an operational base.

The lioness still shook her head at the plans of her brilliant but insane husband…

Using the island of Arkon…as some kind of interdimensional boat, a Mobile Palace that the two of them could use to travel between worlds at will.

It was…simply incredible, so magically complex that Ciri could barely imagine the headache it would be to build something like that, but if anyone was capable of doing it, it was undoubtedly her Aegon.

There was no time to waste. This journey was important, and it was quality time between Ciri and Bellatrix, who was quickly becoming a trusted witch in her husband’s service, both outside and inside the bed, she thought with a mischievous warmth between her legs.

However, Ciri’s mind was not on the pleasant journey with Bella, but on the risky favor she still owed Lily.

The search for little Harry.

Her beloved husband had already entrusted Ciri with the young Potter’s coordinates, and the protections Aegon had built gave the Lioness confidence that the Hunt would not find her in this world.

But Ciri would be vulnerable during the expedition in search of the young Potter, so everything would have to be precise.

Too much was at stake.

Alas, all of that could wait. Now she had a beautiful new project for her brilliant husband.

Who, to be able to call himself a Dragon Lord, was missing something very important.

A winged companion.

There was much to do.

Aegon Targaryen, Inside the Star – Hogwarts.

“AHHHHHG.”

That was the only thing both Aegon and Professor Ariana managed to scream as they arrived at a place…of extreme extravagance and mysticism.

“By Merlin!” the witch whispered, dazzled as she observed the incredible sight around them, and Aegon could not blame her.

“This…is different from the Soul Cairn. Much more powerful, purer…more dangerous,” the young dragon said to himself, his brow furrowed and his gray eyes carefully observing everything around him.

Inside Azura’s Star was a realm Aegon could only describe as existing beyond all known reality, where enormous crystalline pillars rose toward an eternal purple sky.

There was no beginning or end…it was the strangest thing he had ever seen in his life.

The ground, filled with hexagonal and modular surfaces, reflected countless shades of violet, amethyst, blue, and magenta, as if they had been formed inside a jewel.

Among the crystals…Aegon could see faces, human…Mer…countless lives, as if the Star had stored the remaining echoes of their souls before they were lost forever.

Like some sort of sinister repository, he thought with a shudder as they both walked toward the edge of a crystal precipice.

The fall…had no end, or at least that was how it seemed, considering the immense and furious vortex they could see below. Fragments of crystal floated above a luminous abyss, connected by crystalline and arcane structures and arcane energy.

“This…is the most unnatural thing I have ever seen in my life! What kind of magic is this?” Ariana whispered, stunned by what her eyes were seeing, shaking her head and shuddering as she looked around, her wand firm in her hand.

Aegon inhaled deeply and replied. He owed the woman at least that much for trusting him.

“This…is Azura’s Star, a Daedric artifact of immense power that allows souls to be extracted, manipulated, and controlled. I modified it to partially extract Neville’s soul, allowing us to deal with Voldemort once and for all,” the young dragon replied honestly, making the woman frown and look toward Aegon with reproach on her face.

“That is…the most dangerous and irresponsible thing I have ever heard!” the woman said firmly.

Aegon sighed heavily and prepared to answer when a third voice, feminine, warm, and compassionate, made itself heard.

“But it was our only option, an option I will always be grateful to you for.”

When those words were spoken, Aegon and Ariana turned around rapidly, both pointing their wands toward the source of the voice…

What they saw…was a woman, or at least the silhouette of one, made entirely of luminous magic, shining with a golden radiance and illuminating everything around her.

“Thank you, for giving my beloved son a chance.” said the mysterious woman, unknown to Aegon but extremely familiar to Ariana, who could only gasp in surprise before whispering a single word, filled with longing and caution.

“Alice?” she asked, filled with hope and regret.

The mysterious silhouette simply stared at the headmistress before nodding once and speaking again.

“We don’t have much time. Neville needs us. My influence prevents him from possessing my beloved son, but in this place…the energies give him more power. We must hurry,” said the mysterious silhouette, whom Aegon assumed was Neville’s mother.

“An unconditional sacrifice of Love…a magic as powerful as life itself,” the young dragon whispered, looking toward Alice Longbottom’s silhouette and nodding with determination.

“Then there is no time to waste. We have to save Neville’s Soul,” Aegon said, gripping his wand and preparing for the fight.

This had only just begun.